Toyota Avalon and Lexus LX470 Recalls: Steering Defects

Toyota has announced that it is recalling 417,000 Avalon sedans and Lexus Lx470 sports utility vehicles due to steering problems, which could cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles.  

The Japanese automaker announced the latest Toyota recall Thursday, after receiving reports of at least three automobile accidents involving Toyota Avalons. There were no injuries reported in the crashes, and the company says it is unclear whether the accidents were caused by the Toyota steering problems.

Toyota is recalling 373,000 Avalons from the 2000 to 2004 model years in the U.S. due to defective steering lock bars, which could break under certain conditions. The Toyota Avalon recall has been issued because the lock bars were improperly cast and there is a possibility the bar could crack, and potentially cause an automobile accident.

The Lexus LX470 recall affects 39,000 vehicles, due to potentially defective construction of the luxury SUV’s steering shaft, which could cause it to disengage if the vehicle experiences an unusually severe impact to the front wheels, like striking a deep pot hole. There have been no accidents reported in connection to this defect.

In both recalls, Toyota intends to start notifying affected vehicle owners when they can take their vehicles in for repairs sometime in August.

The two latest recalls means that Toyota, once lauded for its safety record, has pulled 11 million vehicles from the market over the last year. The company has faced multiple federal investigations over its recalls, and currently faces a federal probe over whether it acted quickly enough on recalling one million vehicles in 2005 that were also taken off the road due to steering problems.

Toyota is still reeling from the recall of millions of vehicles due to problems with sudden acceleration, which also involved allegations that the auto maker delayed acting on safety concerns. As a result of the recent recalls, Toyota faces a criminal probe, has received hefty government fines and dozens of new Toyota lawsuits over injuries and deaths have been filed.

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